Fall is in the air! As we get ready to change the calendar to October, the students are continuing to do amazing things in kindergarten!
Reading Workshop
While reading the book, But Excuse Me, That is My Book, the kindergarteners had a
chance to get to know themselves better as readers. They were able to talk about what types of books they like and even what they don’t like. Then, they had a chance to look at different books and choose one they would like to read. Thank you so much for returning those surveys about the type of books your child likes to read. Those will help when it becomes time for us to choose books for our book bins during our independent reading time.
chance to get to know themselves better as readers. They were able to talk about what types of books they like and even what they don’t like. Then, they had a chance to look at different books and choose one they would like to read. Thank you so much for returning those surveys about the type of books your child likes to read. Those will help when it becomes time for us to choose books for our book bins during our independent reading time.
We also had the chance to really observe the different illustrations in the poem, “Catch the Moon” and see how the pictures can help us figure out new words.
In another lesson, we learned that books can be fiction or nonfiction. We were able to read and explore the nonfiction book, Apples. We then used a chart that highlighted the different features of both types of books.
The students also learned how important it is for readers to know their sight words while reading, so those words can be read quickly. So far, we have introduced the following sight words: I, can, we, the, like
Each week, these words are introduced and practiced through a song, chant, poem, and mini book. In your child's blue book bag, you will find all the sight word mini books and word cards that have been introduced. Poems are placed in the yellow poetry folder each week. Please make time to practice these words regularly at home.
Each week, these words are introduced and practiced through a song, chant, poem, and mini book. In your child's blue book bag, you will find all the sight word mini books and word cards that have been introduced. Poems are placed in the yellow poetry folder each week. Please make time to practice these words regularly at home.
Jolly Phonics
We have learned another 6 sounds during Jolly Phonics:
/c/ /k/ as in cat and kick
/c/ /k/ as in cat and kick
/e/ as in egg
/h/ as in hot
/r/ as in rabbit
/m/ as in meal
/d/ as in drum
Each Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, we spend time listening to a short story introducing that day’s sound. Then, we learn a song that practices that sound. Afterwards, we make a class chart where the students share words that begin with that day’s sound. Students then work on a coloring page practicing that sound. These coloring pages are then sent home and may remain at home. They do not need to stay in your child's blue folders.
I am so pleased to see that students are beginning to try to add more sounds to their labels in their notebooks. At this point of the year, it is perfectly fine if the students are only able to write the first letter of their label. Please don’t feel as if you need to help them spell the entire word or do the writing for them. We are looking to see what the children can do independently with our new sounds.
I am so pleased to see that students are beginning to try to add more sounds to their labels in their notebooks. At this point of the year, it is perfectly fine if the students are only able to write the first letter of their label. Please don’t feel as if you need to help them spell the entire word or do the writing for them. We are looking to see what the children can do independently with our new sounds.
Name Centers
The students had a chance to explore several different centers that helped them work on the letters of the alphabet, as well as their names. Completing an alphabet puzzle, using magnetic letters to spell the names of all the students, sorting uppercase and lowercase letters, and putting together name puzzles allowed the kindergarteners to become more familiar recognizing and spelling their own name, as well as their friends' names too!
The students had a chance to explore several different centers that helped them work on the letters of the alphabet, as well as their names. Completing an alphabet puzzle, using magnetic letters to spell the names of all the students, sorting uppercase and lowercase letters, and putting together name puzzles allowed the kindergarteners to become more familiar recognizing and spelling their own name, as well as their friends' names too!
Math
We have finished our first chapter! The students have done a wonderful job exploring the numbers up to 5 and being able to explore the concepts of same and different in various groups of objects. They are showing great progress with counting objects and showing the numbers 1-5 in different ways. They even had a chance to design their own pretend animal and practice counting while sharing the different parts of their animal.
LMC
The students have loved heading to the computer lab each Thursday. They are learning how to use the laptops and have practiced their click and drag skills with a shape sort. They even had their first experience with research, as they used the website Pebble Go to learn more about the different seasons, which ties into our science unit on weather.
Novel Engineering
We were so excited to have Mrs. Wasik, Dryden's Advanced Learning Facilitator, join us this week for our first novel engineering experience. Novel engineering is an innovative approach to integrate engineering and literacy. Mrs. Wasik began by reading the book, Peter's Chair. After hearing the story, students had to identify the problem, which was Peter had outgrown his chair so it was given to his little sister and he no longer had a chair. Then, they had to design realistic solutions to solve the problem, which required the students to design a new chair for Peter. As a group, the students had to work together to choose the best chair for Peter. Last, each group had to engage in the engineering process as they chose from a variety of materials to make a model of a new chair for Peter. It was so great to see the creativity, teamwork, and problem solving skills in action as these chairs were being created!
One Book One School
A Note From Mrs. O’Kelly:
Dear Dryden Families,
Today your youngest/only child who attends Dryden will be bringing home a copy of the book A Nest For Celeste. We are excited to begin our “One Book, One Dryden” event! Inside your family’s copy of the book you will find a note about the event and a reading schedule. We encourage your family to read the book at home together, following along with the reading schedule.
For more information, visit: http://drydenlmc.weebly.com/
To hear chapters read aloud, visit: https://docs.google.com/
Thank you for participating!
#1Book1Dryden
Me Bag
We have started our Me Bag schedule and have loved getting to know a couple of our classmates! We learned that Alex loves his family and building with Legos!
We have started our Me Bag schedule and have loved getting to know a couple of our classmates! We learned that Alex loves his family and building with Legos!
We learned that Vicki loves her stuffed animal toy and her very special baby picture!
